Three factories belonging to the Alif Group have been closed indefinitely in Gazipur following protests by readymade garment (RMG) workers demanding their annual leave, Eid-ul-Fitr bonuses, and partial salary payments for the month. The closures occurred in the Jarun area of Konabari city, where workers discovered the shutdown notices upon arriving at the factory gates this morning.
The affected factories are Swadhin Garments, Swadhin Dyeing, and Swadhin Printing that have faced mounting pressure from workers who have been advocating for their outstanding payments for several days. Following the announcement of the closures, workers staged a sit-in protest at the main entrance, expressing their frustration over the lack of response from factory management.
According to the factory closure notice, all operations at the three facilities will be suspended indefinitely, citing a “No work, no pay” policy under Section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labour Act of 2006. The notice highlighted that the ongoing strike, which began on 17th March, had caused significant disruptions to production, prompting the management to take this action.
The notice further explained, “The workers organised themselves and continued the strike, which led to extensive damage to the factories. In light of the current situation, the factory authorities are compelled to suspend all activities indefinitely.”
Officer-in-Charge of Konabari Police Station, Md Nazrul Islam, noted that the workers had been voicing their grievances for several days prior to the shutdown. “The factory authorities unexpectedly halted operations without addressing the workers’ concerns, leading to their current protests both at the factory doors and inside the premises,” he stated.
